Next Plc
Site Operations AI & Automation Manager
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Site Operations AI & Automation Manager
Based at NEXT Head Office in Leicestershire!
The Role
Our eCommerce Developments team are responsible for implementing, testing and building on the UX designs plus the requirements of our partnered brands and the overall content of the website.
As a Site Operations AI & Automation Engineer, you will lead a hands-on team designing, building and shipping production grade AI workflows using Python, LLMs and the Google Cloud stack to solve high value operational problems. Partnering with the site operations and across the wider eCommerce team, you will set technical direction, ensure platform health, drive root cause fixes for major incidents and issues to prevent recurrence and uphold high engineering standards for durable overall output.
What You’ll Take On
Technical Leadership & Delivery
- Lead the end to end design and delivery of production grade AI and automation solutions across site operations.
- Stay hands-on, building high complexity components while setting standards for code reviews, testing, CI/CD and monitoring.
- Make pragmatic stack decisions (Python, LLM providers, Vertex AI, BigQuery) and lead incident response for workflow failures.
AI & Automation Engineering
- Design robust LLM-based workflows, including prompt engineering, evaluation, RAG, embeddings and human in the loop patterns.
- Translate business pain points into well scoped technical solutions, pushing back on low value requests and measuring commercial impact.
- Drive an automation first culture backed by a solid understanding of eCommerce environments.
Engineering Depth & Technical Stack
- Proven track record of shipping scalable production AI systems, not just prototypes or scripts.
- Strong working knowledge of the Google Cloud ecosystem (Vertex AI, BigQuery, Cloud Run, Apps Script) to compose pipeline architectures.
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What You’ll Bring
- Proven ability to design, implement and scale efficient automation scripts and workflows, primarily using Python, to reduce manual effort, enhance efficiency, and minimise errors. This includes process mapping, stakeholder collaboration, and experience integrating AI/ML services to augment human decision-making.
- Comfortable developing and maintaining frameworks, have the self start to create and manage change on key best practices.
- Comfortable with Python, SQL, and AI tools with automation to give insights and consult others.
- Must have hands on experience consuming and interpreting APIs and a working knowledge of web technologies (HTML, CSS, JS) for effective troubleshooting.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical outputs and automation impact (time saved, risk reduced) into clear, business focused insights for stakeholders at all levels.
- Must be a strong collaborator focused on driving results through automation and agentic workflows. Communicating to key stakeholders in a presentation format is something that comes natural to you for large audiences.
- A strong collaborator with an inquisitive mindset for emerging technologies and a passion for building AI aided system.
- A background in eCommerce is beneficial but not essential.
- Ability to champion and advocate for change that has a meaningful business and employee impact.
- Ability to manage and lead a team of site ops professionals.
- Architecting full end to end systems and being part of the full SDLC is in your skillset - this is essential for the role.
About Us
We are a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 44,000 people across the Next group. We’re the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we’re the market leader. At the last count we have over 450 stores, plus the Next Online and it’s now possible to buy online from over 80 countries around the world! So we’ve gone global!
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Benefits
- 25% off most NEXT, MADE*, Lipsy*, Gap* and Victoria's Secret* products (*when purchased through NEXT)
- Company performance based bonus
- Sharesave scheme
- On-site Nursery available; OFSTED outstanding in all areas
- 10% off most partner brands & up to 15% off Branded Beauty
- Early VIP access to sale stock
- Access to fantastic discounts at our Staff Shops
- Restaurants with great food at amazing prices
- Access a digital GP and other free health and wellbeing services
- Free on-site parking
- Financial Wellbeing - Save, track and enhance your financial wellbeing
- Apprenticeship - Grow and develop on the job whilst gaining a qualification
- Direct to Work - Discount online and instore, collect your items the next day for free from your place of work or local store
- Support Networks - Access to Network Groups to empower and celebrate each other
- Wellhub - Discounted flexible monthly gym memberships, with apps, PT sessions and more
Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.
Workplace Adjustments
We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email headoffice_careers@next.co.uk (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.
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